El Niño could mean more extreme weather this summer

An El Niño event is expected this summer. This could lead to more extreme weather this summer.

This comes at a time when oceans around the world are at the hottest level on record.

Typically during El Niño events, Canada experiences drier than normal weather, especially along the west coast and Prairie provinces.

There will be an increased threat of extreme heat, this combined with dry weather will lead to an increased risk of forest fires, and over the Gulf of Mexico, wetter conditions are expected which could lead to more tropical cyclones.

What is El Niño?

El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. It is an area of warm ocean water that develops in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific, including the area off the Pacific coast of South America.